We expecially need YOU for the next two Sundays

December 7th - Pageant rehearsal for all children and youth during the service; Hand chimes rehearse and MOLOTH meets after the service;

December 14th - PLEASE ARRIVE AT 9 a.m. for COSTUMING!  Christmas Pageant -- bring family and friends!

SHPC is providing meals and a warm welcome to our unhoused neighbors on the first Monday (men at St. Rita's in Fairfax) and second Tuesday (women at the Wellness Center in San Rafael) of each month from December 2014 - April 2015.  

Volunteers are needed!!  Information and sign-ups available online:

http://bit.ly/RESTprogram

If you'd like more information about the program, you can contact Shannon Mong at shannon@in-sightassociates.com 

With thanks,

The REST Team

If the the noise around the coffee urn each Sunday is any indication, it sounds like most of the congregation enjoys Fellowship time following Sunday service.

Fellowship time is organized by your Deacons, but we rely on everyone pitching in to help. While each Parish is assigned a month for Fellowship, that time may not be convenient for your schedule. So now you can sign up online! Just click here and pick a Sunday that's most convenient for you.

You can choose to set up and make coffee, bring a savory snack, a sweet snack, supply juice for the kids and creamer for the coffee, or help with clean up. Please take a moment to sign up now... or wait until your Deacon calls on you for help in these months:

December - Parishes: Patti Eisinger and Carolyn Goodman

January 2015 - Parishes: Cat Caldwell and Nancy Elberg/Frankie Eakes

February 2015 - Parishes: Laura Taylor and Patti Eisinger

March 2015 - Parishes: Nancy Elberg/Frankie Eakes and Patti Eisinger

Sign up now before the good slots are all taken!

In 2010, the PC(USA) General Assembly called on us to become and "HIV and AIDS Competent Church," to engage in programs that "reduce stigma, discrimination, and fear of persons who have been diagnosed as HIV positive," and to support public policies that promote treatment and prevention.  Specifically, the Assembly called for increased federal "funding for critical HIV and AIDS research including research focused on (a) infants and children, (b) the risk behaviors of teenagers and comprehensive sexuality education curriculum for teens, and (c) underreported, indigenous, and special-needs populations."

An overwhelming consensus of research shows that providing clean syringes (needle exchange programs) to injection drug users is a highly effective way to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C, and is credited with reducing the rate of new HIV infections among injection drug users by 80 percent. Additional research shows that syringe exchange programs do not increase the numbers of injection drug users, and reduces long term health care costs that occur with the medical needs of people with HIV and/or Hepatitis C.

But Congress prohibits federal funds that are already being spent on HIV prevention and treatment from being spent on needle exchange programs. Write to your Members of Congress here.

Needle Exchange is one of the key public health interventions that we need to implement a long-term strategy to end AIDS.  But in 2012, Congress reinstated the ban on using federal funds for needle exchange programs. The ban on federal funding for syringe exchange was originally adopted in 1989 but was finally lifted by Congress in 2009. Without a discussion or legislative debate, the language was slipped into the spending bill before advocates knew what was happening. Contact Congress and tell them to reverse the ban.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is on the record in support of Needle Exchange Programs - in 2000, the General Assembly approved an overture "advocate[ing]... for lifting the ban on the use of federal funds to support needle exchange programs [and] mandate[ing]... work to remove barriers that keep drug injectors at unnecessary risk for HIV disease and Hepatitis."

For more information on how to be involved in AIDS ministries, get in touch with the Presbyterian AIDS Network and download their World AIDS Day packet.

Write to your Member of Congress now to urge lifting the ban on life-saving needle exchange programs. 

The San Francisco Theological Seminary invites all to join the community in daily email devotions for the season of Advent from Dec. 1-25. Devotions are written by students, faculty, staff, alums, trustees, and are emailed near and far to those who wish to connect with SFTS during this season of waiting. The theme this year, "Listening for the Word Made Flesh," invites us to join the multitude in awaiting the arrival of the Word incarnate, Jesus the Christ, and look for signs that he is in our midst to this day. 

Just follow this link to sign up and receive emails.  

With thanks,

Lora East

Friday and Saturday, December 5th & 6th

7:00 p.m.

San Francisco Theological Seminary Stewart Chapel

105 Seminary Road

San Anselmo, CA 94960

The theme for the 40th annual Service of Lessons & Carols, "Listening for the Word Made Flesh," asks us to join the first Advent listeners to listen for a Word of Scripture and to listen for the Word made flesh in our midst.

Join us for a beautiful night of singing and worship in historic Stewart Memorial Chapel, followed by a reception with cookies and hot cider. This Christmas tradition attracts people from throughout Marin, from a broad spectrum of religious persuasions, making it one of the most popular campus events all year.

Our very own Lora East will be singing during this event!